49ers Head Coaching Search: Would Josh McDaniels Bring in Mike Vrabel for Defensvie Coordinator?
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers have interviewed top candidate Josh McDaniels for their head coaching spot. Is it possible McDaniels would bring aboard Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel for defensive coordinator if the Niners hire the former?
Let’s just assume, for a moment, the San Francisco 49ers hire current New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as head coach in 2017.
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After all, McDaniels is one of the more sought-after candidates on the market this offseason. According to a report from Eric Branch of SFGate.com, the Niners are McDaniels’ preferred destination this year anyway.
If this happens, we might possibly see current Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel take over as the Niners’ defensive coordinator as well.
It’s not a new thought.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, back in October of last year, came up with a quick solution to the Niners’ seemingly endless problems long before the team parted ways with former head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke:
I'd pick Josh McDaniels, hire Mike Vrabel to run my defense, draft Myles Garrett and run a 4-3 defense. #49ers https://t.co/WFWfFLBxZ5
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 25, 2016
Vrabel and McDaniels spent plenty of time together with the Patriots. Vrabel, of course, spent eight years in New England between 2001 and 2008 and wound up being named First-Team All-Pro in 2007.
McDaniels started off as an assistant with the Patriots in 2001 as well and worked his way up to offensive coordinator in 2006. After a head coaching stint with the Denver Broncos in 2009 and 2010, as well as the St. Louis Rams OC in 2011, McDaniels returned to his previous assignment.
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Of course, these two wouldn’t have been in the same meeting rooms — offensively and defensively — but the connection is worth pointing out.
Vrabel is likely one of the up-and-coming names in consideration for a defensive coordinator job this year. His Texans finished No. 1 in the NFL in fewest yards allowed this season (4,821). And Vrabel gets a lot of credit for these numbers.
His efforts versus the Oakland Raiders in the Wild Card round are also something to consider:
This game might get Mike Vrabel as DC job. He's earned it.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 7, 2017
San Francisco wanted to bring in Vrabel as its D-coordinator a year ago. But, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s Grant Cohn, Vrabel said no when understanding he’d be working under former head coach Chip Kelly’s uptempo offense.
If McDaniels is hired, the scenario changes completely. Vrabel might be enticed to rejoin his former Patriots colleague in Santa Clara.
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And that certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing for a Niners defense in need of direction.